The nadir
August 1, 2012
POD 61. Also happened to the day of my boards, which is the test that certifies me to actually do my job. It was a big day. I felt fine in the morning. Was gimping around the test center ok. Finished up the test and went down to Starbucks to wait for my friends. One of them came down and I suggested that we go to the grocery store to pick up some stuff, as we were heading out on Lake Michigan once everyone was finished. Why did I suggest this? I don’t know. I had vowed to myself to walk as little as possible this week, as I was a little worried about how bad my ankle had been feeling during my move to Houston. Instead I decided to walk 3/4 of a mile to the grocery store and then back carrying groceries. My ankle was not feeling great. We met up with the other test-takers and got in a cab to head to the dock. I got on the boat, took off my shoes, and put my feet up. I had a beer. I felt good. The biggest test of my life was over, I felt ok about it, and I was hanging out on a beautiful boat on Lake Michigan with sunny, 85 degree weather. Things were good.
I decided to get in the water. I had read that swimming was good resistance training for the tendon, without putting too much stress on it. I got a little raft ready, stood on the edge of the boat, and hopped in. I knew right away that I had retorn it. I felt the separation before I hit the water. I reached down and could feel the discontinuity in the tendon. I can’t tell you how crushed I was. Almost 9 weeks - gone. I got out of the water and looked at it. My incision had opened up a little too, which was very weird, and I was bleeding a good bit. I wrapped it in gauze and an ACE bandage and got on the phone to my ortho friends. I am scheduled to see my surgeon tomorrow.
I don’t know what I’m going to do at this point. I start my new job in 5 days, but I assume I’m going to be non-weight-bearing for at least 6 weeks. Do I have surgery again or go non-operative this time? The advantage to surgery is reduced chance of rerupture. Right. Yesterday, I sat in bed and read all the rerupture blogs. They really helped. Thanks guys. Today I decided that I was done feeling sorry for myself and have tried to be productive. That has included making this entire blog. I guess I’ll have more to report tomorrow. Until then, I’m keeping it wrapped up, elevated when possible, and I’m back on the scooter.
August 1st, 2012 at 15:34
Firstly I am so sorry this happened to you and if it’s re-ruptured then you are back where you started…so sorry.
My doctor warned me if I re-ruptured mine the repair would be a surgical one (I am non-op right now) so I can only assume you will need surgery again.
What caused your re-rupture is just one of the things that scares me about swimming - getting in/out the water, walking to and from the changing rooms, everything to me is a disaster waiting to happen.
Again, the achilles tendon teaches us a painful lesson - I wish you speedy (but more cautious) re-recovery.
August 1st, 2012 at 16:25
Hang in there Ryan. I hear Guinness is good for these things. Or maybe a Surly.
Keep us posted on this and on how Houston is going.
August 1st, 2012 at 17:08
Ugh! That’s so awful to hear.
Hang in there and as Mike says - Guinness is a great thing in these types of situations. I feel soooo gutted for you.
August 1st, 2012 at 17:51
Hang in there, they’ll get you right before you know it
August 1st, 2012 at 18:56
Thanks guys, I appreciate all the support.
August 1st, 2012 at 22:46
Yes, this blows. Yes, you need this like you need a hole in your head. No, this isn’t fair. Absolutely, that frustration and dejection you’re feeling right now is justified.
Buuuuut…..let’s be optimistic! I’m completely confident that everything will be alright in the end, and if it’s not alright, then it isn’t the end! (Pardon the cliche). And even though his period of tendon problems has been rough, it’s just a drop in the bucket of your life. One day it will just feel like a fleeting moment.
This is the point in my motivational talk where I usually cite all the people, both near and far, who are in much more desperate circumstances. However, I’ve found that this approach usually either makes people feel guilty or leads to me being called a jerk. So, I’ll spare you.
Hang in there, buddy. If I had your address, I’d send you a musical card.
August 1st, 2012 at 23:56
Hood,
Sorry this had to happen to you in my home town and on one of my favorite bodies of water, doing one of my favorite activities, boating. I chose to go non-op. I asked what would happen if I re-ruptured and my doctor said I would just go back in a cast and start over again. At my 16 week check up, my doctor told me that one of his patients who had originally gone surgical re-ruptured when he slipped on one of his kid’s toys. He chose to go non-op for the re-rupture repair. Using modern recovery protocols, according to the UWO study, there is no difference in re-rupture rates between op and non-op repair. You can find out more about that on Normofthenorth’s blog. Unfortunately, the study was conducted with fresh ruptures and a re-rupture might be different. It seems like whether someone goes op or non-op, the biggest factor in the healing is the recovery protocol. In reading your blog, it looks like you didn’t get much guidance there. For me, the real critical period was from week 5 when I went FWB in a boot through week 7 when I started PT and week 10 when I transitioned to 2 shoes. Luckily I was assigned a really good therapist and he deserves a great deal of the credit for my recovery. Hopefully which ever route you take, you will get better help and advice during your post treatment period.
August 2nd, 2012 at 00:39
Hood,
Very sorry to hear your story. Stay positive and focus on the long term goal of full healing. Hopefully you won’t have to start the process again.Keep us posted after your appointment.